BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - When Ronnie Baynes, one of the eight newest members of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, got up to address the audience at Saturday night's induction ceremony, he first thanked Nick Saban.

"All my family is here tonight, and I want to thank Coach Saban for that."

Laughter rippled throughout the banquet hall at the downtown Sheraton; many, it was true, had come to hear from the University of Alabama head coach, who was also being inducted into the ASHOF.

As the night went on, however, the stories and sentiments of gratitude from the seven ASHOF classmates not named Saban resonated just as much as the ones that came at the end of the night from the reigning national championship coach.

There was Baynes, recognized for his years of work as a SEC and NFL official, who thanked his mother, father and sister in sign language. Raised by deaf parents, he recognized two athletes from the Alabama School for the Deaf and Blind in Talladega.

"Nothing gives me more pride than my family," he said.

There was former Jacksonville State and San Francisco 49ers star Eric Davis, who stressed the concept of team. "Sure, I wanted to be a Pro Bowler, but I wanted to do it for the team, so that the team could go forward," he said. "I didn't win the Super Bowl, WE won the Super Bowl."

There was Auburn basketball player Vickie Orr, reminiscing about the moment her middle school coach chased her down at the bus stop to ask her to be on his team. "And I know it was only because I was the tallest person in the school," she said.

She went on to say that her days at Auburn "were the best of my life, and if I had the chance I wouldn't change a thing."

There was Brittney Blue, the daughter of posthumous inductee Forrest Blue, an Auburn and All-Pro center, saying that she felt like her father was at the ceremony in spirit.

"I know he's here in this amazing company of athletes," she said.

There was "Brother" Bill Oliver, recognized for his legendary career as a player at Alabama and a coach at both Alabama and Auburn, saying that he felt like he didn't belong in the Hall.

"I feel like someone's going to tap me on the shoulder and say I'm in the wrong building," he said.

And yet Oliver, whose stories of training under Paul "Bear" Bryant could fill a book, said that he was honored and humbled to be inducted. "I feel like I'm king of the hill," he said.

There was Alabama A&M and Olympic track great Dannette Young Stone, remembering the words of her mother in her youth.

"My mother always said that no matter how bad things get, you can achieve your dreams," she said. "But I never dreamed I'd be in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame."

There was Rex Jones, accepting the award for his late father Bill Jones, the former UNA basketball coach and athletic director who won the first basketball national championship by an Alabama team.

Choking up as he told of his mother's desire for Jones to be in the ASHOF, he recognized her in the audience. "She cut down the last string of the last net of the last basketball game he coached," he said. "This has been one of my Mom's dreams for years, and I'm so happy she saw this while she is still alive."

Then there was Saban, who capped off the night with his acceptance speech.

He talked of his parents' influence, his wife's support, the importance of family and his love of team.

And he seemed to capture for all the honorees the pervading feeling of the night. He said that all the dreams and the hard work to achieve them "seem to be worthwhile tonight."